☆☆➹⁀☆3.5 -4 stars☆➹⁀☆☆

What it’s about:

The significance of the noose left hanging outside James Palmer’s barn is obvious to everyone in the village. When threats turn to violence DCI Peter Hatherall has to unmask a master of disguise determined to have their revenge.

Review:

Diana Febry is known for her mysteries featuring her dynamic male and female detective team of Peter Hatherall and Fiona Williams. Her stories are usually set in a wealthy, rural, equestrian community in England. While the characters Hatherall and Williams are well liked, I wished for there to be a little more personal interaction and chemistry between them.

Febry’s first chapter is quite the hook. She starts Point of No Return with a chapter about Digby, a man falsely accused of manslaughter. His sad spiral into depression sets the stage and premise for the rest of the novel. Point of No Return then jumps two years into the future.

In the fast-paced plot, seemingly random acts of vandalism turn to murder. The victim of the pranks is James Palmer who Digby believed caused the accident that killed his friend. Palmer is not liked in his community either, and I found myself feeling that Palmer deserved whatever came his way. The story moves along with the reader questioning if Palmer’s karma will finally catch up to him.

The author’s attention to descriptive details of life on a large estate gives the reader a clear view of the life of horsey people. I enjoyed the rich development of an emotionally disturbed killer. Febry’s story telling is gripping, and this intense psychological thriller will keep you turning pages until the culprit is revealed!